News

Special election scheduled to fill state representative seat

By Dennis Brown

Governor Steve Beshear last week set the date for a special election to fill the vacant seat for State Representative of Lewis and Carter counties. The special election will be held on Tuesday, December 8.

The vacancy in the 96^th district of the House of Representative is the result of the resignation of Rep. Robin Webb, who resigned having been elected to represent the 18^th district of the State Senate.

The Republican Executive Committees of Lewis and Carter counties are scheduled to meet at 7:00 p.m. this evening (Tuesday) at the Carter County Justice Center in Grayson to choose their candidate. The Democratic Executive Committees were scheduled to meet Monday evening at the Carter County Justice Center.

A report in the Ashland Daily Independent last week indicated two possible candidates had expressed an interest in the Republican nomination; Jill York and Dallas Burchett, both of Grayson.

The Independent also reported that four potential candidates had expressed an interest in the Democratic nomination. They are Barry Webb and David Hayes, both of Grayson, former Olive Hill Mayor Jim Short and Vernon Adkins, who owns a trucking company in Olive Hill.

The 96th District House seat opened up when Webb won an August 25 special election to fill the 18th District Senate seat of Charles Borders, who was appointed to the Kentucky Public Service Commission by Gov. Beshear.

Whoever wins next month’s special election will serve the remainder of Webb’s term, which expires December 31, 2010. Borders’ Senate term also expires next year, meaning Webb also will have to run for re-election to the Senate.

There is also a vacancy in the 14^th State Senate district is the result of the resignation of Sen. Dan Kelly, whom Gov. Beshear named to a judgeship in the 11^th Judicial Circuit. The special election will also be held on Tuesday, December 8 for the district that encompasses Marion, Mercer, Nelson, Taylor , Washington counties.

KRS 118.730 dictates that the governor must issue the writ for a special election for a member of the General Assembly, if the vacancy occurs when the legislature is not in session.

In accordance with KRS 118.760, nominations to fill vacancies at special elections are made pursuant to the governing authority of the party in the territory which the election is to be held. Petitions and certificates of nomination may be filed 28 days before the day of election, and if filed with the Secretary of State, shall be immediately certified by the Secretary of State to the proper county clerks per KRS 118.770.

County officials present monthly reports

By Dennis Brown

Lewis County officials presented their monthly activity reports during the October meeting of Lewis County Fiscal Court.

Sheriff Bill Lewis filed his department’s report for activities from September 14, 2009, to October 12, 2009:

* Subpoenas Served 83

* Domestic Related Calls 89

* Civil Summons Served 18

* Felony Arrests 13

* Misdemeanor Arrests 15

* Accident Investigations 15

* Juvenile Investigations 10

* Criminal Summons 8

* Prisoners Transp. to Secure Facility 532 miles

* Juveniles Transported 182 miles

* DVOs and EPOs 10

* Court Bailiff Hours 476

* Prescription Deliveries 4

* Auto Inspections 69

* Funeral Escorts 10

Stolen Property Recovered

* Miscellaneous Tools $2,600.00

* Miscellaneous Tools $905.00

* Silverware $2,500.00

Total $6,005.00

Lewis County Emergency Management Director Carl Chaney reported the following activities:

* Performed all routine administrative/office tasks as required by KyEM.

* Turned in all monthly reports for KyEM.

* Met with a Health Net representative and visited the Designated Landing Zones for any changes.

* Attended the Hazmat meeting in Flemingsburg.

* Attended a KyEM quarterly meeting in Morehead.

* Attended a County Fire Association meeting.

* Working on FEMA paperwork.

* Working on 911 issues.

* Working of Flood Plain issues.

* Provided dispatch coverage.

The Lewis County E-911 Dispatch Center received a total of 360 calls for service for the following agencies:

* Sheriff’s Department 139

* Vanceburg Police Department 75

* Traffic Stops 15

* Injury Accidents 9

* Non-injury Accidents 15

* Complaints 55

Fire Department and other calls:

* Lewis Co. FD 1

* Camp Dix FD 5

* Garrison FD 15

* Vanceburg FD 2

* Firebrick FD 2

* Black Oak FD 9

* Kinniconick FD 1

* Tollesboro FD 7

* Med Corp Ambulance 103

* Coroner 0

Road Supervisor Dane Howard reported that more than

1,923 tons of gravel and 13.56 tons of asphalt had been hauled over the previous month and said pothole repairs had been made at Wilson Bottoms, Bear Branch and McDowell Road.

Graded roads included Saylor Branch, Lyles Lane, Fugate Lane, Straight Fork Road, Cedar Hill Road, Mills Branch, Armstrong Church Road, Red Brush Hill, Howard Cemetery Road, Cottageville Church Road, Oak Hill, Rock Camp Road, Buck Lick, ADR Subdivision, Indian Run Road and Cooper Fork Road.

Howard reported that pipe had been installed or repaired at Vances creek, Rock Camp Road, McDowell Road, Dry Hollow, Harrison Hollow and Sandy Lane.

Simmons Road and Cooper Fork received ditching or road widening.

Tree and debris removal/brush cutting/mowing was reported for Simmons Road, Quicks Run Road, Golden Ridge Road, Rock Creek Road, Stamper Branch, Craycraft Road, Murphy’s Lane, Everman’s Lane, Spence Lane, Fannin Lane, Shaw Hollow, Valley Cemetery Road, Charters, Ribolt-Epworth and Happy Hollow Road.

Various road and shoulder repairs were made at Hamlin branch, Lyles Lane, Sandy Lane,

Harrison Hollow, Lambert Branch, Stone Branch, Rock Camp Road and Twin Branch.

Howard also reported roadways that are scheduled to receive resurfacing or initial treatment for blacktop using funds from the state’s rural secondary road program. He said those county roads include Pebbles Lane, Rock Creek Road, Sandy Lane, Gail Avenue, Mary Avenue, Stamper Branch Rod, Simmons Road and Fitch Road.

Lewis County Jailer Tim Underwood filed the following activity report for September 1 – 30, 2009:

Inmate Population:

* State Inmates CC/CD/CI 48

* Traded 0

* Served Out 0

* Paroled 2

* County Inmates 40

* Inmates Booked In 84

* Average Daily Jail Population 80

Fees/Payments Collected:

* Booking, Housing, Medical, Damaged Property $1,113.76

* Telephone Commission $2,315.42

* Class D/CC/CI Pay for July $39,551.08

Food

* Somerset Food in September $6,876.36

Traveled 685 Miles

* Hopkins County Detention Center

* Campbell County Detention Center

Underwood reported that 45 Class D inmates participated in the work program totaling 4,680 man hours. The agencies they assisted included The Lewis County Courthouse, Justice Center, Sheriff’s Department, City of Vanceburg, Solid Waste Program, Clean Highways Program, Garrison Little League, Garrison Boat Docks, Tollesboro Little League, Lewis County Historical Society, Lewis County Board of Education, Corps of Engineers, Helen Rayburn Library, and the Black Oak, Tollesboro and Camp Dix Fire Departments.

Areas covered by the Clean Highways Program included Burtonville Road, Garrison Lane, Indian Run, Hickory Hollow, McCray Branch, Garrison Boat Dock, Bel Air Drive, Montgomery Road, Ribolt/Tollesboro, Ky. Rt. 8, AA Highway, Riffe’s AA, Holbrook Hollow, Ky. Heights, Lions Lane, St. Paul and Quincy. A total of 423 bags of waste were picked up.

Underwood reported the commissary account at the jail totaled $9,121.63 and the inmate account had a balance of $6,700.13.

Lewis County Animal Control Officer Shawn Henderson did not submit a report due to an illness in his family, according to Judge Executive Steve Applegate.

County Treasurer Kathy Dillow reported the total of all county funds for the month of September had a beginning balance of $1,181,849.25 and an ending balance of $932,130.30. Receipts for the month totaled $124,729.66 while disbursements totaled $374,448.61.

The next regular meeting of Lewis County Fiscal Court will be at 9:30 a.m. November 9, 2009, in the third floor courtroom of the Lewis County Courthouse.

Natural gas rates lower this year

Staff Report

Sharply lower wholesale natural gas prices will mean smaller heating bills for Kentucky customers this winter according to a spokesman with the Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC).

“Natural gas prices have come down considerably from the artificially high levels of last year,” PSC Chairman David Armstrong said. “Furthermore, there is reason to think that we may see relatively stable prices for the next several years.”

On average, Kentucky customers can expect to pay about 39 percent less this November than last for 10,000 cubic feet of natural gas. Individual reductions will vary by company and customer usage.

Wholesale prices are at their lowest levels in at least six years, and are less than half the peak prices seen in 2008. Wholesale costs make up the largest portion of retail gas bills during the heating season. They are passed through to consumers on a dollar-for-dollar basis by local distribution companies.

The amount of natural gas in storage for use during the winter is at historically high levels, according to data from the federal Energy Information Administration. That suggests adequate supplies and stable prices through the heating season, unless there is widespread and extreme cold weather.

Weather is always the main factor in determining the amount of energy that consumers use to heat their homes and thus the size of their heating bill, Armstrong said. Improvements in energy efficiency and conservation are the only way to permanently lower energy bills, he said.

“Lower energy prices do not negate the wisdom of taking steps that will reduce energy consumption in the long term,” Armstrong said. “Consumers would be wise to turn some of their immediate savings into permanent investments in weatherization and other measures that will pay off in coming years.”

Last year’s spike in wholesale natural gas prices was the second in three years. But unlike 2005, when prices skyrocketed after hurricanes Katrina and Rita shut down natural gas production on the Gulf Coast, last year’s spike was not due to an imbalance between supply and demand.

Rather, it appeared to be the result of speculative investments in commodity markets, including natural gas.

“Natural gas markets have experienced considerable instability over the last several years,” Armstrong said. “Recent data suggest the markets may be settling down.”

By federal law, natural gas prices are not regulated at the wholesale level and generally fluctuate with supply and demand. Under Kentucky law, gas companies are entitled to recover the wholesale cost of the gas delivered to customers, including the fees they pay to interstate pipelines to transport the gas to their retail distribution systems. Companies are not allowed to earn a

profit on their gas commodity costs. The companies’ gas cost adjustments are reviewed by the PSC to make sure they accurately reflect the wholesale cost of gas.

About half of the natural gas used for winter heating is put into storage in the summer. The price at which it was purchased is the price passed through to consumers. Until the last decade, natural gas prices typically were considerably lower in the summer than in the winter. That gap has narrowed in recent years, due in large part to the increased use of natural gas to generate electricity.

Kentucky’s five major natural gas distribution companies expect their adjusted wholesale cost this November to be, on average, $5.61 per 1,000 cubic feet (mcf). That is down $6.09 (52 percent) from an average of $11.70 per mcf a year ago.

In August 2008, the average adjusted wholesale cost peaked at $15.17 per mcf. In November 2002 the average adjusted wholesale cost was $4.90 per mcf.

The wholesale cost of natural gas accounts for about three-fourths of a typical consumer’s winter bill. A typical Kentucky customer using 10 mcf next month will pay a total monthly bill of $92.08, down $58.70 – or 38.9 percent - from the $150.78 average bill a year ago.

That decrease is an average for Kentucky’s five major local natural gas distribution companies. It will change as companies make further wholesale cost adjustments throughout the heating season. The figure for any given customer depends on the gas company and individual usage patterns.

The five major natural gas distribution companies in Kentucky are Atmos Energy, Columbia Gas of Kentucky Inc., Delta Natural Gas Co. Inc., Louisville Gas and Electric Co. and Duke Energy Kentucky Inc. Together, the five companies serve more than 750,000 customers in Kentucky and deliver about 176 billion cubic feet of gas annually.

About 44 percent of Kentuckians heat their homes with natural gas. Those who heat with propane (10 percent) and fuel oil (3 percent) also will be paying less than a year ago.

The 39 percent of Kentuckians who use electric heat are expected to see relatively little change in their energy bills this winter. As in past years, the cost of coal – which is used to generate more than 90 percent of Kentucky’s electricity – has fluctuated less than the cost of other fuels.

Energy prices have moderated in large part because the sagging economy has reduced demand, Armstrong said. The economic slump means that many Kentuckians will continue to have difficulty paying their heating bills, even with the lower costs this winter, he said. Heating assistance is available from utility companies and local community action agencies, but funds are limited and sometimes run out during the heating season, he said.

“Do not delay looking for assistance until a difficulty has become a crisis,” Armstrong said. “Now is the time to take the necessary steps if you think that you may need help paying your heating bill this winter.”

Tips to save money this heating season

By Dennis Brown

Kentucky consumers can take a number of steps to reduce their natural gas usage or to soften the impact of gas costs:

Budget billing: This option allows customers to pay the same amount each month, based on their average monthly usage during the year. Customers should contact their utility for more information.

Energy conservation measures: Simple steps such as turning down thermostats on furnaces (most people are comfortable at 68 degrees) and water heaters (120 degrees is hot enough for nearly all uses) can be big energy savers.

Energy audits: Many local utilities offer home energy audits at little or no cost to consumers. These audits can identify energy-wasting trouble spots and provide information on how to correct the problems.

Weatherization: Consumers can do a number of things to reduce inflows of cold air and leakage of warm air, particularly around windows and doors. Some basic weatherization steps include:

*Use caulk or weatherstripping to seal cracks around windows, doors, pipes and other points where cold air can enter the home. This alone can reduce heating costs by 10 percent or more.

*Federal and state tax credits are available for installing energy-efficient doors and windows

*Add insulation in attics, crawl spaces and walls.

*Cover windows, especially those with single-pane glass, with storm windows or plastic sheeting before the onset of cold weather.

*Clean or replace furnace filters monthly to improve airflow and efficiency.

Advice on conserving energy, including links to a wide range of information, is also available from the Kentucky Department for Energy Development and Independence on the web at http://www.energy.ky.gov/dre3/.

Weatherization assistance for low-income families is available in Kentucky. Many utilities offer weatherization assistance in conjunction with local social service agencies. Local social service agencies also offer assistance through a state program administered by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. For information on weatherization assistance, go to: http://www.communityactionky.org/WhatWeDo/ EnergyAssistance/Weatherization/tabid/356/Default.aspx

Low-income consumers may qualify for assistance with their heating bills through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). It is administered at the local level by community action agencies. Consumers who do not qualify for LIHEAP may be eligible for assistance through programs sponsored by their utility company or programs operated by local social service organizations. Consumers should contact their utility for more information. Information about LIHEAP is available on the Web at: http://chfs.ky.gov/dcbs/dfs/LIHEAP.htm

For general information about cutting heating costs, utility issues or for assistance with resolving consumer disputes with utilities, contact the PSC by calling 800-772-4636 or go to the PSC Web site at: http://psc.ky.gov

The PSC is an independent agency attached for administrative purposes to the Energy and Environment Cabinet. It regulates more than 1,500 gas, water, sewer, electric and telecommunication utilities operating in Kentucky and has approximately 100 employees.

Garrison woman charged with first degree criminal abuse

By Dennis Brown

A Garrison woman was arrested and charged by Lewis County Sheriff’s Deputies last week on first degree criminal abuse involving a child under the age of 12.

A spokesman with the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office said Roberta Hobbs, 54, of Garrison was arrested and lodged in the Lewis County Detention Center last Tuesday after deputies began an investigation when they received a call from social services.

The spokesman said Hobbs is accused of using duct tape to bind a child with special needs for long periods of time, adding that

social services removed the 11-year-old child and two nine-year-old children from the home they shared with Hobbs.

Deputy Gary Sparks, who is investigating the incident, said Hobbs lived in “deplorable conditions”. He said he visited the home on Monday and all three children were in school at the time of his visit.

An arrest warrant was obtained and Hobbs was arrested and charged the following day. Sparks said Hobbs was the grandmother and primary caregiver of the children.

Sparks said additional charges are pending as the investigation continues.

Questions or comments? E-mail Us:
Lewis County Herald ( heraldadvertising@yahoo.com )

Hit Counter

The Lewis County Herald is hosted by:

http://www.totlcomputing.com/

This site developed and maintained by D.K. Brown.

© Copyright 2001-2009, Lewis County Herald Publishing Co., Inc. All rights reserved. The content of these pages is for the information of our visitors and may not be reproduced without written permission. To request permission, contact Dennis Brown at 606-796-2331.